The Ministry of One-Anothering

We humans have a natural tendency to squeeze the calling of the Lord into our cultural/religious traditions and expectations. This propensity has an uncanny way of distorting our understanding of God's purpose in our lives. Thus, we need an occasional reminder of the fundamental nature of our calling as ministers of the Lord:

The Ministry of One-Anothering
by Chip Brogden

"Whoever wants to become the greatest must become the servant of all" (Mark 10:44).

When anyone comes to me now and wants my advice about "going" into the ministry, the first thing I seek to do is upset all their ideas about ministry and talk to them about being a servant, taking the back seat, being hidden from view, lowering yourself, and practicing the art of One-Anothering.

The ministry of One-Anothering doesn't require a platform, a pulpit, a building, a budget, or a Board. You can start immediately, with no training and with no experience, and you don't have to quit your job or do anything dramatic. You cannot be voted in, and you cannot be voted out. The Life you possess qualifies you to be in the full-time ministry of One-Anothering. Your wounds are your credentials. You can go to your brothers and sisters right now and say, "The Lord has called me to the ministry, and I am beginning it today." Love, pray for, encourage, and serve the saints. So many times we have observed individuals who claim to be called to some great work but they neglect the basic principles of One-Anothering. There is no competition for the lowest position, so let all who love the Lord go there first and become a servant.

[url=http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/articles/oneanother.html]Full Article[/url] (highly recommended)

May God inspire you to grow and mature in this high calling.
Diane

It is quite apparent that the topic of “ministry” occupies many minds quite significantly. Here is another morsel by which we can shape our thoughts. It is again taken from Chip Brogden’s [url=http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/articles/oneanother.html]Full Article[/url] (which I highly recommend as a helpful preliminary for our thinking on the topic of ministry):

Every Christian is called to the ministry of One-Anothering. We are to love one another, serve one another, submit to one another, instruct one another, encourage one another, help one another, forgive one another, and so forth. This is our spiritual service. This is your ministry to the Body of Christ and the basis from which every spiritual gift should operate.

It would be profitable for you to do a study of all the places in the New Testament that mention "one another". There are a considerable number of references. You will immediately benefit by seeing that Christianity is not for hermits. There is no place for individualism in the Kingdom of God, for we are a Body of many members, each fashioned together into interdependence.

You will also see that we are called to live very simple lives of quiet service to our brothers and sisters. It is neither complicated nor difficult.

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thank you diane for this article. i have been refreshed and refocused back on loving and serving others..

thanks.

thank you diane for this article. i have been refreshed and refocused back on loving and serving others..

Praise God, LoveHim! May his love radiate through you to those whom he puts in your life.

LoveHim, Here's an area where I believe I need growth:

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Phil.2:4

This means getting off of my own little map and onto the map of another - and see life from that person's perspective.

Diane

I also enjoyed this article. Chip brought out some good points...points that are often times neglected when one thinks of "ministry"

Thanks for posting this sister.

LoveHim, Here's an area where I believe I need growth:

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others." Phil.2:4

thank you for your humility and honesty sister..

we'll see that we all could grow more in that area of our lives..

” Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak …. “ James 1:19

Maybe this verse is a good starting place. It perhaps addresses one of our greatest downfalls as zealous followers of Christ (It’s certainly a challenge for me). In our zeal to tell others what is on our mind, we easily forget to listen to what is on THEIR mind. If we would become more in tune to what is on THEIR minds, then we might just discover that much of what we are telling them is going right over their heads. Not that they are less insightful or intelligent than we are (maybe the contrary); but that they are burdened and focused on other things, and we in our insensitivity are trying to interject their thoughts in ways that don’t connect or don’t build trust.

Listening is a wonderful gift to others - a way we express our interest in their lives. It is an offering of ourselves. It is one-anothering in a way that can be deeply edifying.

May God help us to develop the art of listening.

Diane